Saffron Everleigh returns to Ellington Manor after her grandfather suffers a heart attack. Back in her childhood home for the first time in years, Saffron faces tense family relationships made worse by the presence of the enigmatic Bill Wyatt, hired on as a doctor to the ailing Lord Easting. But the man is no doctor—in reality, he is a mysterious figure involved in the trafficking of dangerous government secrets, and his presence at Ellington can only mean trouble.
When their neighbors, the Hales, invite a spiritual medium into the village who starts angling for Saffron’s mother’s attention, Saffron realizes that there is more afoot in her hometown than she originally thought. Not to mention inviting Alexander to Ellington has put their budding relationship under her family’s microscope.
As tensions rise at Ellington, Bill demands that Saffron hand over old research documents belonging to her late father. With her relatives under his power as their ‘doctor,’ Saffron fears she may be forced to surrender the files along with her hopes of ever understanding her father’s obscure legacy. Nothing and no one is as they seem at Ellington. It’s through the perfumed haze of the séance’s smoke that Saffron must search for the truth before it’s too late.
I was very happy that the reader finally got to meet Saffron’s grandparents. However, I seriously dislike the grandmother and hope the grandfather puts the woman in her place. Elizabeth, though, was a tough pill to swallow. I didn’t like the fact that she was drinking just to be in the same room with them, and that she was so nasty at first. Elizabeth has always seemed very selfish but then realizes it in retrospect and tries again.
I am so happy with Alexander and Saffron. I hope that they now meet Alexander’s family and have more research adventures as well as mysteries.
The mystery plot was pretty stereotype, but the sad reality is that people who lose their loved ones tragically are easy pickings for con artist. More so following the World Wars than now. There are still interests and scams, but I would like to believe that people research before diving in.
Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
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